Michael Klee’s path into welding started with a skateboard rail. After growing up around his father’s machine shop, Michael learned to stick weld so he could build his own rail—and that one project turned into a 23-year career in the welding industry.

In this episode, Michael joins us in person at the show floor to talk about his path from shop work and welding technology school into automation, sales, applications, and his current role as a Welding Specialist with Messer Gases in Ontario. We get into real-world troubleshooting, common setup mistakes, shielding gas choices, high-deposition processes, cobots, handheld laser welding safety, and what shops need to have in place before investing in automation.

What You’ll Learn

• How a homemade skateboard rail helped Michael discover welding and set him on a new career path.

• How he moved through shop work, automation, sales, and applications before becoming a Welding Specialist with Messer Gases.

• How Messer specialists help shops evaluate their current welding process and identify opportunities to improve throughput, reduce spatter, and eliminate unnecessary grinding.

• Why the numbers displayed on a welding machine do not always reflect what is happening at the arc.

• Why common issues often come down to incorrect machine setup, drive rolls, contact tips, wire selection, gas flow, or shielding gas choice.

• What welders need to understand about short-circuit, globular, and spray transfer when selecting a shielding gas mixture.

• How shops can use process changes, wire selection, and gas mixtures to reduce spatter and increase welding speed.

• Where handheld laser welding fits, why it is a powerful process, and why safety procedures need to be taken seriously.

• Why cobots can be a practical entry point into automation for the right shop.

• How high-deposition processes like dual shield, submerged arc welding, and modern heavy-deposition MIG systems help shops put down more metal with fewer passes.

• Why there is no single career path in welding—and how welders, technologists, inspectors, salespeople, and automation specialists all play important roles in the industry.

Michael Klee is a Welding Specialist with Messer Gases, serving customers in Ontario and Manitoba. With a background in welding technology, automation, applications, and sales, Michael works with fabrication shops to evaluate welding processes and find practical solutions for challenges like excessive spatter, slow throughput, process selection, shielding gas optimization, and automation readiness.

If your shop is working through a welding-process issue or looking to evaluate new equipment, wire, or gas options, Michael recommends starting with your local Messer representative. From there, the Messer team can assess your current state, identify the biggest opportunities, and help build a plan for a better future-state process.

Connect With Michael Klee

• Instagram: @thecanadianweldingguy https://www.instagram.com/thecanadianweldingguy/ 

• Messer Website: https://www.messer.com/

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If this show has helped your welding career, leaving a 5-star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts helps other welders find it.

#WeldingSpecialist #WeldingTroubleshooting #ShieldingGas #WeldingTechnology #WeldingEducation

Milena Stevanov is one of the owners of GS Engineering, a structural consulting firm supporting fabrication, welding quality programs, structural design, and more. In this episode, she shares how she and her business partner acquired the company they once interned for, what it takes to become a welding engineer, and why the best results happen when engineers and welders work together.

What You’ll Learn

● How Milena and her business partner went from interns at GS Engineering to acquiring and leading the company.

● Why mentorship, family-business experience, and a strong support system were critical in making the transition to ownership.

● What GS Engineering does, from structural design and equipment certifications to retained welding-engineering support.

● What a welding engineer actually does and how they help clients build quality-control programs, develop procedures, and troubleshoot production issues.

● Why practical feedback from welders and fabricators matters just as much as calculations, codes, and engineering requirements.

● How Milena approaches the classic welder-versus-engineer relationship by listening first, explaining the “why,” and working toward practical solutions.

● Why process choices matter when qualifying welding procedures, and how understanding the pros and cons helps shops make better decisions.

● A realistic look at the pathway into welding engineering, including welding-inspector training, metallurgy knowledge, mentorship, shop exposure, and working with clients.

● Why young people entering the industry should seek mentors, surround themselves with supportive people, and explore the many career paths available in welding.

Milena Stevanov is a civil engineer and co-owner of GS Engineering, a structural consulting firm serving clients across Canada, the United States, and Europe. Along with structural design, certifications, and industrial consulting, GS Engineering provides welding-engineering support to fabrication clients, helping them manage welding procedures, quality-control programs, and certification requirements. Milena brings a collaborative, practical approach to the role, connecting engineering theory with the real-world needs of welders and fabrication shops.

Connect With Milena Stevanov / GS Engineering

● Website: https://gsengineering.ca/ 

● LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/milena-stevanov/ 

Download The WELD App

iOS: App Store

https://goweld.link/AppleApp 

Android: Google Play

https://goweld.link/Android 

If this show has helped your welding career, leaving a 5-star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts helps other welders find it.

#WeldingPodcast #WeldingCareer #WeldingEngineering #StructuralEngineering #Fabrication #WeldingQuality #EngineeringCareer #GSEngineering

Montana Woolley’s welding career has taken her from a first-day beginner in the booth to shop work, inspection, supervision, and now education with CWB Education. In this episode, she shares how following curiosity, showing up ready to learn, and staying open to new opportunities helped her find a career path that keeps evolving.

What You’ll Learn

● How Montana went from having zero tool experience to falling in love with welding through a pre-apprenticeship program.

● Why working in smaller fabrication shops gave her experience with a wide variety of projects, processes, and problem-solving.

● What she learned by moving from welding into visual inspection, supervision, and education.

● How CWB Education builds custom training programs around real shop challenges, quality issues, and workforce goals.

● Why inspection can be a strong pathway for welders who are also interested in becoming supervisors.

● How micro-credentials can make welding theory and inspection education more approachable for people working while they upskill.

● Montana’s advice for new welders: look at the jobs available in your area, choose a process to focus on, learn the theory, and introduce yourself to shops in person.

● Why welding is such a versatile trade, from structural work and inspection to custom fabrication, artistic projects, and new technology like laser welding.

● How Montana turns scrap and drop material into garden trellises, metal bugs, dragonflies, and other whimsical welding art.

Montana Woolley works with CWB Education, where she oversees custom training programs and public courses. She helps companies identify training needs, build curriculum around specific welding and quality challenges, and create practical education pathways for welders looking to grow into inspection, supervision, and other roles in the industry.

Connect With Montana Woolley

● CWB Education: https://www.cwbgroup.org/education

● CWB Group: https://www.cwbgroup.org/

● For questions about CWB Education training pathways, custom training, or public courses, contact Montana through CWB Education.

Download The WELD App

iOS: App Storehttps://goweld.link/AppleApp

Android: Google Playhttps://goweld.link/Android

If this show has helped your welding career, leaving a 5-star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts helps other welders find it.

#WeldingPodcast #WeldingCareer #WeldingEducation #CWBGroup #CWBEducation #WeldingInspector #WeldingSupervisor #WeldingTraining #MicroCredentials #MetalArt

Collaboration Links

Weld

https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UCM0kHJXSHR1k1wtLuliKmHg/collaboration/UCnqsXS9XPRa6vQvKoDdOkRg

CWB

https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UCVbLbc7goDa6FxauaveyUHA/collaboration/UCnqsXS9XPRa6vQvKoDdOkRg 

Al Theriault built 575 Custom Fabrications the hard way: first as a welder, then as an inspector, then in sales, and finally by turning a garage shop into a full-time fabrication business. If you’re a welder thinking about going out on your own, trying to price custom work better, or figuring out how to turn skill into a sustainable business, this episode is packed with practical advice and real-world perspective.

What You'll Learn

• How Al went from welding and inspection into sales before deciding to go all in on fabrication.

• Why he built 575 Customs as a tiny garage shop and reinvested every dollar back into tools and capability.

• How he prices custom work based on materials, complexity, lead time, and the real value of the job.

• Why finishing, material choice, and corrosion prevention matter just as much as the weld itself.

• How his inspection background shaped the way he thinks about blueprints, metallurgy, efficiency, and quality control.

Al is the owner and operator of 575 Customs, also known online as the 575 Shop, where he shares behind-the-scenes looks at his work and custom fabrication projects. After years in welding, inspection, and sales, he now focuses on one-off custom pieces, TIG work, finesse fabrication, and finishing details that make a project last.

Connect With Al Theriault

• Instagram @the.575.shop https://www.instagram.com/the.575.shop/ 

• YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@575customs 

• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/p/575-Customs-100088256534836/ 

Download The Weld App

iOS: App Store https://goweld.link/AppleApp

Android: Google Play https://goweld.link/Android 

If this show has helped your welding career, leaving a 5-star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts helps other welders find it.

#WeldingPodcast #WeldingCareer #fabrication #weldingbusiness #the575shop

Sarah Stork has built a name for herself by creating strikingly realistic metal animal sculptures that blend welding skill, texture work, and artistic vision.

If you’ve ever wondered how a welder turns scrap, wire, and texture into lifelike animals, this episode gives you a behind-the-scenes look at Sarah’s process, inspiration, and approach to sculpture.

What You'll Learn

• Why Sarah chose animal sculptures and how that subject matter opened the door to her artistic style.

• How she builds sculptures from the inside out, starting with a concrete base and developing the form piece by piece.

• What role texture plays in her work, including how welding imperfections can become part of the final artistic effect.

• Why she values simple starting points for beginners, especially for welders who want to try sculpture for the first time.

• How competitions like SkillsUSA helped shape her path and connected her to the broader welding sculpture community.

• Why respiratory protection matters in welding art, and how safety should stay part of the creative process.

Sarah Stork is a welding artist based in Georgetown, Texas, who has been creating sculptures since 2015. She is known for realistic animal pieces that combine TIG welding, texture creation, and creative material choices to bring metal to life. Her perspective is especially valuable for welders who want to explore sculpture, improve their artistic side, or better understand how technical welding skills can translate into creative work.

Connect With Sarah Stork

• Instagram @sarah_stork ⁠https://www.instagram.com/sarah_stork_/⁠ 

• TikTok @sarah_stork_ ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@sarah_stork_?lang=en⁠ 

• Facebook - ⁠https://www.facebook.com/sarah.scott.33865/⁠ 

Download The Weld App

iOS: App Store ⁠https://goweld.link/AppleApp⁠

Android: Google Play ⁠https://goweld.link/Android⁠ 

If this show has helped your welding career, leaving a 5-star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts helps other welders find it.

#WeldingPodcast #WeldingCareer #metalart #metalsculptor #sarahstork 

Trent Konrad didn’t start in an office, he started in the welding industry, grinding mill scale, learning the trade, and working his way up from the shop floor. In this episode, he breaks down how he moved from welding to education, then into leadership at the CWB Group, and why being willing to shoot your shot helped open major doors along the way.

What You’ll Learn

• How Trent got introduced to welding and why a single conversation helped launch his career.

• What it was like starting at the bottom in fabrication and proving himself through work ethic.

• Why he chose to leave welding for education and how he kept building toward larger opportunities.

• How one bold cold call helped him secure funding and raise his profile inside the CWB Group.

• Why there are so many pathways in welding beyond just striking an arc.

• How CWB supports welders, instructors, and businesses through education, certification, and industry partnerships.

Thank you to this week's sponsor Abicor Binzel. Learn more about the xFUME Pro here https://goweld.link/abicorpod 

Connect With Trent Konrad

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trent-konrad-13950765/ 

• www.cwbgroup.org 

Download The Weld App

iOS: App Store https://goweld.link/AppleApp

Android: Google Play https://goweld.link/Android 

If this show has helped your welding career, leaving a 5-star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts helps other welders find it.

#WeldingPodcast #WeldingCareer #weldingeducation #cwbgroup #weldingcertification

Brook Laing started in the trades as a steam-fitter welder and eventually found her way into industry media, where she now helps tell the stories behind manufacturing and fabrication. In this episode, Brook shares how she got into the trades, why she left union work, and how podcasting and content creation became part of her mission to make the industry more approachable and human.

What You'll Learn

• How Brook went from college plans to welding and steam-fitting.

• Why she loved the work but still chose to pivot out of the trade.

• The difference between a steam-fitter and a pipe-fitter.

• Why layoff culture can make trade careers hard to sustain.

• How she got involved with the Sisterhood of the Skilled Trades.

• Why trade communities and apprenticeship support matter.

• How her podcast helps introduce new people to the trades.

• Why storytelling is one of the most powerful tools for recruiting and retention.

• How manufacturing content can focus on the people, not just the shop.

• What she thinks about automation, robotic welding, and the future of skilled labor.

Thank you to this week's sponsor Abicor Binzel. Learn more about the xFUME Pro here ⁠https://goweld.link/abicorpod⁠ 

Connect With Brooke Laing

• LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/brooke-laing11/⁠ 

• Instagram: @lainggerr ⁠https://www.instagram.com/lainggerr/⁠ 

• TikTok: @lainggerrr ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@lainggerrr⁠

• Two Bolts Short Of A Flange Podcast: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/6pmLbiTozQOjsh4d7fun2s?si=fc6f8fc7c08d4e06⁠ 

• YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@TwoBoltsShortofaFlange⁠ 

Download The Weld App

iOS: App Store ⁠https://goweld.link/AppleApp⁠ Android: Google Play ⁠https://goweld.link/Android⁠

If this show has helped your welding career, leaving a 5-star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts helps other welders find it.

#WeldingPodcast #WeldingCareer #steamfitter #twoboltsshortofaflange #WeldingEducation 

In this episode of the WELD Podcast, we sit down with Guy Seguin, program coordinator and welding professor at Algonquin College in Ottawa, Ontario, to talk about what it really takes to get good at stick welding. Guy shares the biggest mistakes beginners make, how to build consistency with arc length and travel speed, and why getting comfortable and putting in the reps matters more than chasing tricks early on. We also get into stick-start frustrations, tie-ins, arc blow, TIG fundamentals, and the little setup issues that can make or break a weld.

What You’ll Learn

• Why stick welding comes down to practice, consistency, and comfort more than gimmicks.

• The best way to teach beginners without overwhelming them with manipulation too early.

• Why starting with an easier-to-run rod can help new welders build confidence.

• How to avoid common issues like sticking, bad tie-ins, arc blow, and poor setup.

• What to look for in a clean, stable puddle across both stick and TIG welding.

About Guy Seguin

Guy Seguin is a welding professor at Algonquin College and the creator behind Sewing With Fire Welding. He teaches the next generation of tradespeople while sharing hands-on welding content that focuses on real shop skill, strong fundamentals, and practical technique. His experience with stick and TIG welding makes him a valuable guide for anyone trying to level up their work in the booth.

Thank you to this weeks sponsor Abicor Binzel. Learn more about the iBOTone here https://goweld.link/abicorpod 

Connect With Guy Seguin

• Website: https://sewingwithfirewelding.com/ 

• Instagram: @sewingwithfirewelding https://www.instagram.com/sewingwithfirewelding/ 

• TikTok: @sewingwithfirewelding https://www.tiktok.com/@sewingwithfirewelding 

• YouTube: @sewingwithfirewelding5627 https://www.youtube.com/@sewingwithfirewelding5627 

Download The Weld App

iOS: App Store https://goweld.link/AppleApp

Android: Google Play https://goweld.link/Android 

If this show has helped your welding career, leaving a 5-star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts helps other welders find it.

#WeldingPodcast #WeldingCareer #stickwelding #tigwelding #WeldingEducation #WeldingInstructor

Kayla Vander Molen is a pressure welder, welding examiner, and senior instructor with the Boilermakers in Canada, and in this episode she breaks down what it really takes to build a career in one of the most demanding trades in welding.

If you’ve ever wondered how pressure tickets work in Canada, what boiler makers actually do, or how mentorship and union training can change the trajectory of a welding career, this conversation gives you a real inside look at the path.

In this episode, you’ll learn

• How Kayla went from welding in the field to becoming an instructor and education advocate for the next generation.

• What the pressure ticket means in Canada, and why it opens the door to additional pressure qualifications rather than being the finish line.

• What boiler makers do on site, from tube work and pressure applications to high-stakes welds that can require X-ray inspection.

• How union apprenticeship training builds skills through classroom learning, hands-on work, and mentorship.

• Why confidence, workplace culture, and asking questions matter just as much as technical ability in welding.

  
  

About Kayla

Kayla Vander Molen is a pressure welder by trade, a welding examiner and instructor with the Boilermakers, and a contributor to educational content through the CWB. Her background includes field welding, union training, mentorship, and a strong focus on helping welders avoid the mistakes, unsafe habits, and dead-end paths that can hold them back.

She also talks about the importance of keeping skills local, supporting strong workplace culture, and creating more access to practical welding education for people entering the trade.

Thank you to this weeks sponsor Abicor Binzel

Learn more about the iBOTone https://goweld.link/abicorpod

Connect with Kayla

• Website: WeldTux.com

• Instagram: @weldtux https://www.instagram.com/weldtux/ 

  
  

Download The Weld App

iOS: App Store https://goweld.link/AppleApp

Android: Google Play https://goweld.link/Android 

If this show has helped your welding career, leaving a 5-star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts helps other welders find it.

#WeldingPodcast #WeldingCareer #Boilermaker #PressureWelding #WeldingEducation #UnionWelding #WeldingInstructor #WeldingMentorship #WeldingLife #TradeSkills

The welding industry is changing fast, and if you want to keep up, it is not about learning one process anymore. In this episode of WELD, Beau Wigington takes a look inside the brand new CWB Group Center of Innovation in Milton, Canada, during its grand opening to see how training, technology, and industry partnerships are shaping the future of the trade.

Beau talks with leaders from CWB Group about the new innovation hub, the weld shop, the EV repair training area, and the Canadian Collision Repair Academy. From advanced inspection methods and automation to practical training for newcomers and upskilling welders, this episode shows why facilities like this matter for the next generation of technicians and fabricators.

In this episode, you will learn:

• How CWB Group is bringing innovation, training, and industry partnerships under one roof.

• What the innovation hub is showcasing, including cobots, simulators, laser welding, and ultrasonic phased array technology.

• Why phased array ultrasonic testing is a major step forward in weld inspection and traceability.

• How the new EV repair center is preparing technicians for the safety demands of working on electric vehicles.

• What the Canadian Collision Repair Academy teaches about structural repair, aluminum welding, and manufacturer procedures.

• How the new weld shop is being used for hands-on training, testing, and government-funded education programs.

  
  

This episode also explores Industry 4.0 and what it means for welding, automation, robotics, and AI in a field that still depends on strong manual skills. The big takeaway is simple: the future of welding will reward people who can adapt, learn, and work across more than one discipline.

Facilities like the CWB Center of Innovation are more than impressive buildings. They are a sign of where the industry is headed, and why training, access to new technology, and collaboration between manufacturers, educators, and welders are becoming more important than ever.